Power take-off and associated mechanism



`Ilan. 18, 1938. P. H. DAvEY POWER TAKE-OFF AND ASSOCIATED MECHANISMFiled March 26, 1936 w al) Pau! Da/eg linda/ Patented Jan. 18, 1938PATENT OFFICE `POWER TAKE0FF AND ASSOCIATED MECHANISM Paul E. Davey,Kent, Ohio Appiioation Moron 2s, 1936, serial No. 11,018

6 Claims.

, .This invention relates generally to'mechanisms employed in connection'with power. shafts to take o power pressors, welding generators andlike power units, and more particularly to such'mechanisms and themanner oi mounting them in combination with drive shafts upon vehicles.This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No.702,993 entitled Power'take-oi and associated mechanism, filed-onDecember 18, 1933 which has matured into United States atent i No.2,051,784, issued August I8,- 1936.

` to undue stresses which materially decrease their life and increasethe possibility of the unit be- -coming inoperative or breaking down atany time. Inasmuch as such units when employed in connection withautomotive vehicles are generally used on remote jobs far from repairshops,

. it is evident that thedependability and long vlife thereof becomes animportant factor in the over-l all eillciency of the vehicle and itsattached unit or units.

'My present invention, which is an improvement over the device disclosedin my. rPatent No.

' 2,014,797, issued September 17, 1935, overcomes that the i0y lstantially rigidly supported by the frameof the ,this disadvantage 'ofthe prior art structures -in drive shaft of the automotive vehicle whichpasses through the powertake-off is subvehicle as is desirable, yet myimproved take-od unit 4is mounted with the requisite flexibility topermit it to yield and accommodate itself to the .weave of the vehicleframe during road travelandto the varying distortion'of the Vvehicleframe under` different loads. My improved takeoff andlits associated'mechanism is also designed to transmit the full poweravailable in theprime mover, and readily adjust itself when'putflnto operation .when thesupporting vehicle is so positiond that the frame lthereof is distortedfrom 4normal alignment. This self adjustmentA is accomplshed by theprovision of self-algning supporting means in connection with the powertakefor the operation of air com provide novel supporting means offwhereby any reasonable amount of weaving and warping of the truck'framemay take place without damage to the unit or its supporting bearings,and by novel internal construction permitting an overall contraction andexpansion of the unit. My improved power take-off unit thus becomes anessentially independent transmission unit capable of self adjustment tovarying positions relative to the the further advantage that it freesthe power take-oil from the necessity of exact alignment with the driveshaft of a truck on which it is mounted, which has been an ever-presentproblem in the previous designs of such units. In most prior deviceswherein the transmission mechanisms are coniined to a supporting case,the size and arrangement of gears therein must of 'necessityv be connedwithin deiinite limits which seriously limit the power transmittedthereby, whereas with the present invention a relatively wide latitudeis afforded in such selections.

My present invention has a further advantage in that it affords acompact unit for association with the drive shaft of a truck or vehiclewhereby the vehicle may be driven together with simulthat can be truckframe, and hastaneous operation of the power converting unit locatedthereon.

Accordingly, it isa major object of my invention to provide a novelpower take-ot! means through which the full prime-moverv power may beefliciently transmitted, that may be readily installed on automotivevehicles now in use or built into tionthereof in a manner such thatitmay be lconsidered an essentially independent transmission unit thatwillstand up'under thev shock of road travel. and weaving and distortionof the vehicle frame for a period considerably in excess of the usuallife oi?l prior units.

A further object of my invention is to provide ha' novel power take-olfdevice that is supported in connection with the drive shaft of a truckor like vehiclethrough an arrangement whereby the necessity for exactalignment withthe drive shaft iseliminated andthe take-off is maintainedin a smi-cating state whereby it may accommodate itself to distortionand weaving of the truck frame without the application of undue andharmful stresses to the bearings of the take-oil or .their associatedstructure.

Still a further object of my invention is to in connection with a'powertake-off unit on a truck drive shaft `and truck frame, the supportingmeans being of such vehicles in the course of construca design tosupport the take-oil in a semi-floating relation while yet supportingandmaintaining the drive shaft in the preferred substantially rigidrelation, thus permitting the take-off to yield and accommodate itselfto weaving and warping of the truck frame during road travel and underdifferent loads.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel powertake-off arranged to be mounted on the frame of a truck or similarvehicle, the mounting and the take-oil.' being of novel characterwhereby the take-ofi is supported in a universal, self-aligning;semi-floating relation with respect to the supporting frame, thetake-oil being characterized by its ability to adjust itself withrespect to length to thereby avoid undue strains set up due to changesinl alignment.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel power take-oifparticularly adapted for insertion in a power or drive shaft, thetake-off 1 comprising a split shaft with novel means to maintain theaxes of the split portions in xed relation to one another as by anarrangement with the adjacent ends of the split sections rotatablysupported by each other at at least two points intelescopic relation andthe spaced ends being supported in self-aligning bearing means mountedon a suitable base or bases whereby the take-off may adjust itself tochanges in alignment of the base or bases in addition to adjustingitself with respect to relatively small changes in length occasioned bythe changes in alignment while maintaining its contained mechanism incorrect alignment to prevent the development of internal strains.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel power take-oil'means in a novel combination with a power converting unit such as acompressor. generator or the like whereby the power converting unit andthe take-off therefor may be so positioned with reference to the driveshaft and the frame that there is substantially no sacrifice of theoriginal cargo space.

A further object is the provision of a novel power take-oil' device foruse particularly in connection with trucks, embodying a selective clutchand gear mechanism whereby the power from the drive shaft may beoptionally directed either to a power converting unit, to the drivingwheels of the truck, or both, novel supporting means from the truckframe and drive shaft being provided whereby the power take-oil' mayyield to align itself in accordance with weaving of the truck frameduring road travel while the drive shaft is maintained in its desiredposition.

My invention has as a further object the provision of novel powertake-oil means in combination with a selective clutch and gearmechanism, adapted to transmit the full available power of the primemover, the whole being of compact design and capable of insertion in adrive shaft, countershaft or the like and being designed to yield to thedistortion and flexing of such a shaft without resulting harm to thetake-oi! means or a reduction in its emciency.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel powertake-on' means designed to be positioned adjacent driving and drivenshafts and mounted thereon for relative movement in such manner thatexact alignment need not be maintained therebetween for proper andefficient operation, novel self-aligning supporting means being providedin connection with the take-oil' to permit a requisite amount ofdisplacement to accommodate distortion of the basic support.

A further object of my invention is to provide a power take-oi! of noveldesign for employment with a sectional or split drive shaft, a novelmanner of connecting and supporting the adjacent shaft sections beingutilid immediately adjacent the power take-oi! mounting whereby thereaction thereupon is taken by the split shaft with no consequentdistortion by stresses that would tend to decrease the efficiencythereof or reduce its anti-friction characteristics.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a novel manner ofconnecting sections of a split propeller shaft through properlylubricated `anti-friction means whereby a power take-off may be mountedand duction in the the shaft as a driven thereon with no repowertransmitting efilciency of result of the reaction of the power take-off,novel clutching elements being also provided .between the propellershaft and the power take-off at a point immediately adjacent theanti-friction means to further minimize the resultant reaction againstthe shaft.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a power take-off ofnovel design together with selective clutch and gear mechanism wherebythe construction thereof and the supporting means therefor is such thata relatively wide `latitude is afforded for choice in the size andarrangement of gears and the arrangement thereof with the clutchingmechanism.

lStill a further object of my invention is to provide a novel manner ofmounting a power takeoif on a truck now in use or during the manufacturethereof whereby existing elements of the frame are utilized to bestadvantage and the takeoil' is assured of a semi-floating relation thusaffording its accommodation to weaving Vof the frame during road travelor distortion of the frame dusl to varying loads, the manner of mountingbeing relatively simple and inexpensive.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide a novel powertake-oil.' in combination with a drive shaft together with improvedlubricating means whereby proper lubrication of all the moving parts andtheir bearings is assured with a resulting increase in life oi' thetake-off.

With the above and other objects in view as will appear from thefollowing description, reference is made to the accompanying drawingwherein:

Figure 1 is a preferred embodiment of my invention shown in longitudinaldiametric section.

Figure 2 is a further preferred embodiment of my invention shown inlongitudinal dlametric section.

With reference to Figure l of the drawing, there is illustrated. thereina compact form of power take-off wherein the length is materiallyreduced, and the takeolf may be inserted in a relatively short length ofa drive shaft. ing shaft Il leading from a prime mover or other sourceof power is aligned with a driven shaft I2 leading\ to the drivingwheels of the vehicle. Both shafts may be formed with splines at theirend portions for suitable connection to other shafts through universalconnections or the like. il is supported adjacent its left end in aself-aligning bearing I3 mounted in a bearing block Il which in turn maybe supported upon a. pillow block I5 secured to the frame of thevehicle. Suitable lubrication is afforded through a grease fitting I8.

Shaft i2 is formed adjacent its right end with A drivav portion I1 ofreduced cross sectionabout which is mounted a bearing I8 of theself-aligning type.

' t the splines.

` cured to sleeve A cylindrical annulus I9 is provided for the supportof bearing I8, bearing I8 being maintained therein-by a locking ring 2lfitting into a notch 22 in the inner surface of annulus I9 and a c over23 fastened to the annulus as by a threaded connection 24. To insure theretaining of cover 23 in place against the rotation of shaft I2, alocking cap screw 25 may be'passed through a hole in cover 23 to engagea threaded hole in annulus I9. Annulus I9 is formed with an annularflange 26 apertured for the reception of bolts, rivets or the like forconnection to a rigid frame member (not shown). -Means may be providedfor the introduction of lubricant adjacent the splined end of shaft I2and a lubricant retainer 21 is provided in cover 23. It will be notedthat with both bearings I3 and I8, sumcient clearance in the supportingmeans is provided whereby shafts II and I2 may be angularly displacedwithreference to their normal axes and not be cramped or lockedthereagainst with resulting undesirable friction.

Shaft II is provided with a portion 28 of in.- creased diameter having,a hollow core 29 therein. A portion 3I of further increased diameter isprovided with a hollow center 32 to form a cylindrical sleevehereinafter designated as 8i. Sleeve 3l is recessed in its interior toform bearing supports for bearings 33 and 34, preferably of the balltype. Shaft I2 terminates within and is mounted to rotate in bearings 33and 36 in sleeve 3i and is formed with an integral gear 35 immediatelyadjacent bearing 39. A grease retainer 36 is preferably provided inbearing 3B.

Shaft II has mounted thereon on its -portion 28, bearings 31 and 38,preferably of the ball type, which support a pulley 39 having sleeve IIIor suitable gearing thereon to transmit power to a power converting unitusually located on the vehicle. A spacing 'collar 42 is provided inconjunction with locking elements 43 and 44 to space bearings 31 and 38,bearing 31 being otherwise held in place by a spacing collar 65 on shaftII vand bearing 38 abutting against the end of sleeve 3i. An annulus 66with a gear thereon is bolted or otherwise secured to pulley `39 asshown. Sleeve 3| is splined on its outer surface to en- .gage withcorresponding interior splines on ya sliding sleeve 41 provided with anotched collar 96 adjacent the right end thereof land adapted to beengaged by suitable operating means such as a fork (not shown). Collar68 is'preferably se- 61 by cap screws 69. Sleeve 61 is formed at itsleft end with a gear 5I of a size to engage gear 66 and is furtherprovided with a grease retainer 52 arranged to contact annulus I9. f

In the position of sleeve 41 shown in Fig. 1, the unit is in neutralposition with no drive to either shaft I2 or pulley 39. If it is desiredto drive shaft I2 from shaft II, sleeve 91 is shifted to the right untilthe interior splines thereon engage gear 35, the teeth of which areformed to Drive will then be through shaft il, sleeve 3|, sleeve 41, andgear 35 to shaft l2. If it is desired to drive pulley 39 from shaft II,sleeve 41 is, shifted to the left whereby gear 5I engages gear 46 anddrive takes place through shaft II, sleeve 3i, pulley 39.

Lubrication for the entire unit aside from the self-aligning bearings atthe ends thereof is enabled by `means of a single fitting 53 deliveringsleeve 91, gear 5l and gear 46 to' lubricant into the space between thepulley and collar 42, whereby bearings 31 and 38 arelubricated. Aconduit 54 lleading to core 29 conducts lubricant to bearings 33 and 34.

In Figure 2, I have illustrated a furtherpreferred embodiment of thepresent invention wherein the overall assembly is even more compact thanthe assembly shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2, a driving shaft 6I having a splined outer surface62 is connected by a splined and flanged bushing 63 to a. universaljoint 64 by suitable bolts 65, universal joint 64 being driven from anysuitable means such as the prime mover of an automotive vehicle.

Flanged bushing 63 `is supported in turn by a Aself-aligning bearing 66,the bearing 66 being held in position byl a bearing block 61 having'sidepieces 68 and 69 secured thereto by suitable bolts such as 'shown at 1I..Bearing block 61' is supported in turn upon a pillow 'block'12 mountedupon a frame member-13 of the vehicle.

The splined portion of shaft 6I terminates at a bearing 14 mounted abouttheshaft, bearing 14 being arranged to mount a sleeve member V16 formedwith a gear 16 thereon. Beyond bearing.l

14, shaft 6I comprises a portion of reduced diameter which is mounted torotate within a bear. ing 11, the bearing being secured to the shaft bysuitable means as through a snap or lock dring 18.'. v The bearing 11 isarrangedto rotatably mounta second portion of the sleeve 15. Thisarrangement it will be noted maintains sleeve 15 in sub'- stantially xedaxial alignment with shaft 6I.

Sleeve 15 terminates in a solid splined portion 19 which is connectedlto yan element 8| of a universal joint, the connection being secured bya suitable washer 82 and nut 83 threaded ona stud projecting from shaftportion 19. Universal joint 8l may be connected by suitable meansto'drive the wheels of the vehicle. or to another power unitas desired.Shaft 19, which for the vpurpose portion 88 of reduced diameter on whichare mounted two bearings 89 and 9| spaced by a suitable collar 90.Bearings 89 and 9I rotatably support a power transmitting means such asa pulley 92 which is provided with suitable grooves for engagement witha driving belt (not shown) lead' ing to a generator, compressor or thelike. Pulley 92 is maintained in position on bearings 89 and 9i byengagement of bearing 89 with a wall of the recessed portion of thepulley, and engagement of the bearing 9i with the collar 93 secured topulley 92 by suitable bolts as shown at 94.

Pulley 92 is recessed as shown at 95 to define an annular space. Withinthis annular space a col'- lar 96 having a gear 91 thereon issuitablysecured to the pulley as by bolts 98 as shown. 'I'hus far thereby.Member 99 which may be termed a clutch member, is formed with aprojecting flange |0| having a gear |02 on the outer end thereof. Aswill be seenV from the drawing, the gear |02 is arranged to mesh witheither gear 19 or gear 91. With the clutch element 99 in the positionshown in Figure 2, drive through the power take-oil' shown will bethrough the universall 64, flanged bushing 63, shaft 6| clutch element99, gear |02, sleeve 15, shaft 19 and universal element 8|.

With the clutch element 99 shifted to the right so that gear |02 engagesgear 91, the chain of drive will be universal 64, anged bushing 63,A

shaft 6|, clutch element 99, gear |02, gear 91, and pulley 92. Ifdesired, the gear |02 may be made of a width so that gears 16 and 91 maybe engaged at the same time whereby both the shaft 19 and the pulley 92may be driven simultaneously.

It will be noted that in the structure shown in Figure 2, that asidefrom the self-aligning bearing structure shown to the left of thefigure, the remaining structure including all the remaining bearings ismounted substantially within the dimensions of the driving pulley. Thisincludes the bearings 14 and 11 which maintain the shafts 9| and 19 inalignment, the self-aligning bearing at the right of the figure whichrotatably supports the power take off from the frame member 81 and thebearings 89 and 9| which support the power transmitting means or pulley92. It will 'be noted that all the clutch elements both on the drivenshaft, the driving shaft and the power transmitting means are locatedwithin the dimerisions of the power transmitting means or pulley 92.

It will be seen that the invention as disclosed in Figure 2 involves acompact, practical power take-off structure which is particularlyladapted for installation on vehicles where a minimum space isavailable.

For the lubrication of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, a hollowbore |03 is formed in shaft 6|, the bore connecting with a suitablelubricant fitting |04`as shown. Adjacent the opposite end of the bore|03, apertures |05 are provided for the distribution of grease orlubricant to bearing 11, the inner bore of the sleeve 15 being providedwith openings or passages |06 for the passage of lubricant to bearings14. A lubricant passage |01 isprovided in the end of shaft 9| to permitthe passage of lubricant to the right side of bearing 11. An aperture|08 is provided leading from the space between shaft 6| and sleeve 15 toafford lubrication of bearings 89 and 9|, lubrication of these bearingsalso being facilitated by a release fitting |09 connected with a passage'Ihe purpose of this fitting is to relieve air pressures which wouldotherwise be built up by the filling of the lubrication spaces from asingle grease fitting. Such a. fltting is preferably designed to openwhen the pressure reaches ap proximately eighty pounds per square inch,thereby permitting of the complete filling of the chamber with grease,but at the same time insuring that .the grease will be retained after itis once in place.

For lubrication of the bearing 84 and associated mechanism, a lubricantfitting ||2 connecting with a passage H3 and member 85 is provided asshown at the right hand end of Fig. 2. Bearing Il is lubricated througha tting ||4.

It will be noted that all the bearings are provided with means toprevent the escape of lubrishaft section cant therefrom and thatsuitable lubricant seals of conventional type as shown at Il! areprovided to prevent the escape of lubricant between' the rotatingelements.

The above described embodiments are not only comparatively simple inconstruction but also are characterized by increased efficiency and thetransmission of power is accomplished with a minimum of intermediateagencies. Moreover, the entire assembly is so mounted by reason of theself-aligning bearings that they may readily accommodate themselves todistortion of the vehicle frame and no cramping or destruction of thesupporting bearings will result.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by` the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced tberein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:-

1. A power take-off arranged to form a part of a drive shaft in anautomotive vehicle comprising aligned driving and driven shaft sections,at least one of said sections beingI rotatably supported from saidvehicle through' a self-aligning bearing whereby the power take-off ismaintained in self-aligned relation thereto; a power transmittingelement rotatably supported on said driving section and spaced therefroma substantial portion of its length to form an annular space adjacentthe end of said driving section; double acting clutch means mounted onsaid driving section in non-rotatable relation thereto and within saidannular space; cooperating clutch elements on said clutch means and saidpower transmitting element arranged to engage in one position of saidclutch means; and'cooperating clutch elements on said clutch means andsaid driven section arranged to engage in another.

position of said clutch means.

2. In a power take-off unit arranged to be inserted'in a drive shaft ona vehicle; a split shaft, one shaft section of said split shaft beingarranged to receive power from the drive shaft; a second shaft sectionarranged to be driven from said first section; spaced supporting meansadjacent the outer ends of said shaft sections and attached to saidvehicle, said supporting means being subject to stresses under workingconditions eilecting distortion and misalignment of the elementsthereofand of the associated elements of said vehicle and comprising means tosupport said power take-o3 unit in universal relation to said vehicle toinsure proper operation of said unit when placed under distortion andmisalignment effected by stresses; power transmitting means rotatablymounted on one of said shaft sections and spaced therefrom a portion ofits length to form an annular space around said shaft section; clutchingmeans on said shaft sections and said power transmitting means wherebysaid power transmitting means or said second may be driven from saidfirst shaft section, said means being located in said annular space; andmechanical means between said supporting means to maintain the axes ofsaid shaft sections in fixed relation to one another including spacedbearing means.

. ment effected by stresses;

3. In a power take-off unit arranged to be inserted in a drive shaft ona vehicle; a split shaft, one shaft section of said split shaft beingarranged to receive power from the drive shaft; a second shaft sectionarranged to be driven from said first shaft section; spacedsupportingmeans adjacent the outer ends of said shaft sections and attached tosaid vehicle, said supporting means being subject to stresses underworking conditions effecting distortion and misalignment of the elementsthereof and of the associated elements of said vehicle and comprisingmeans to support said power take-off unit in universal relation to saidvehicle to insure proper operation of said unit when placed underdistortion and misalignment effected by stresses; power transmittingmeans mounted on said second shaft section and spaced therefrom aportion of its length to form an annular space around said second shaftsection; clutching means on said sections and said power transmittingmeans whereby said power transmitting means or said second shaft sectionmay be driven from said first shaft section, said means being locatedsubstantially in said annular space; and mechanical means between saidsupporting means to maintain the axes of said shaft sections in fixed'relation to one another including spaced bearing means.

4. In a power take-off unit arranged to be inserted in 'a drive shaft ona vehicle; a split shaft, one shaft section of said split shaft beingarranged to receive power from the drive shaft; a second shaft sectionarranged to be driven from said first shaft section; spaced supportingmeans adjacent the outer ends of said sections and attached to vsaidvehicle, said supporting means being subject to stresses under workingconditions effecting distortion and misalignment of the elements thereofand of the associated elements of saidV vehicle and comprising means tosupport said power take-off unit in universal relation to said vehicleto insure proper operation of said unit when placed under distortion andmisalignpower transmitting means mounted on said first shaft section andspaced therefrom a portion of its length to form an annular space aroundsaid rst shaft section; clutching means on said sections and said powertransmitting means whereby said power transmitting means or said lsecondshaft section may be driven from said rst shaft section, said meansbeing located in said annular space; and mechanical means between saidsupporting means to maintain the axes of said shaft sections in xedrelation to one another including spaced bearing means.

5. A power take-off arranged to form a part of a drive shaft in anautomotive vehicle comprising aligned driving and driven shaft sections,at least one of said sections being rotatably supported from saidvehiclel through a self-aligning bearing whereby said power take-off ismaintained in self-aligned relation thereto; a power transmittingelement rotatably supported on said driven section and spaced therefroma substanti 1 portion of' its length to form an annular space adjacentthe end of said driven section; double acting clutch means mounted onsaid driving section in non-rotatable relation thereto and within saidannular space; and cooperating clutch elements on said clutch means,said power transmitting element and said driven section arranged toconnect said clutch means and power transmitting element in one positionand said clutch means and said driven -section in another position. Y

6. A power take-off arranged to form a part of a drive shaft in anautomotive vehicle comprising aligned driving and driven shaft sections,at least one of said sections being rotatably supported from saidvehicle through a. self-aligning bearing whereby. the power take-off ismaintained in self-aligned relation thereto; a power transmittingelement rotatably supported on one of said sections and spaced therefroma substantial portion of its length to form an annular space adjacentthe end of said section; double acting clutch means mounted on saiddriving section in non-rotatable relation thereto y and within saidannular space; and cooperating clutch elements on said clutch means,said 'power transmitting element and said driven section arranged toconnect said clutch means and said power transmitting element in oneposition of said clutch means and to connect said clutch means and saiddriven section in another position of said clutch means.

PAUL H. DAVEY.

